Blogging about the books in my life and my life in books

New Year, New Books

I couldn’t let January go by without blogging about the books I’m most looking forward to in 2016. There are some by authors I already know I love and some by authors I’ve never tried before, but all of them have caught my eye for one reason or another. I’m sure in time these will be joined by countless other vying for my attention, but for now here are my top picks for the coming year.

“The Gustav Sonata” by Rose Tremain – she’s one of my all-time favourite authors and anything new by her is an exciting prospect. The only one of hers I wasn’t quite so keen on was “The Road Home” but this looks interesting: the evolution of a friendship over many decades between two boys who first meet in the 1930s as the threat of war is beginning to cast its shadow over Europe.

“The Ashes of London” by Andrew Taylor – this one falls into the “authors I’ve never read” category but it sounds wonderful. It’s a story of murder set around the time of the Great Fire of London, which makes me über-excited as the mid seventeenth century is one of my favourite historical periods. Modern day murders I can take or leave but set it a few hundred years ago and I’m there.

“The Ballroom” by Anna Hope – I’ve seen a few proof copies of this floating around on social media and I’m very sad not to have one myself! The cover design is magical, the story (set in an early twentieth century asylum) sounds potentially heart-breaking but also beautiful…in fact, everything about it screams “read me”!

“Rare Objects” by Kathleen Tessaro – we all need a bit of easy-reading escapism now and again and that’s what Tessaro provides in spades. I loved “Elegance” in particular; I thought it was both a light, enjoyable read and a very clever conceit, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this next novel brings.

“The Muse” by Jessie Burton – and finally….get the bunting out and crack open the champagne because there’s a new Jessie Burton novel! Eek! I’m beyond excited about this as “The Miniaturist” was one of my top books of the last few years. It must be so hard to follow up such an amazing debut so I’m willing her on and desperately hoping it lives up to expectations.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts on these on Girl, Reading throughout 2016!